Since he made a bet with the Pure Heart Saintess, Jiang Li didn't plan on just getting by, not to bully a group of younger disciples under 25 to get first place, but to surpass the Pure Heart Saintess and win first place!
Before going into the exam, Jiang Li's first step was to look at the reference books for the entrance exam.
However, the result left him speechless.
He remembered that when he entered the school five hundred years ago, the reference books were widely circulated books in the Jiuzhou, such as "Introduction to Cultivation," "Prospects of Cultivation," "Discussion on the Culture and Customs of Jiuzhou," and so on.
But now it was "General Outline of Cultivation (by Jiang Li)," "Three Thousand Questions on Cultivation (by Jiang Li)," "Cultivation is Cultivating the Heart (by Jiang Li)," "General Outline of Cultivation (Annotated Version by Jiang Li)."
"Out of ten reference books, eight were written by myself, and the remaining two are about annotations of my books?!"
"Those who know think I am an honored graduate of the academy, and those who don't know probably think I am a teacher who sets exam papers," Jiang Li grumbled.
After reaching the Grand Accomplishment stage, his understanding of cultivation deepened. Consequently, he compiled some of his insights into books for the benefit of many cultivators.
Upon further consideration, the academy's approach was not unreasonable. Those who reached the Unity stage had a systematic understanding of cultivation. For example, the Pure Heart Saintess had a deeper understanding of cultivation than the academy's president.
Without theoretical support, it's impossible to reach the Unity stage without a half-hearted understanding of cultivation methods, not to mention the Crossing Tribulations and Grand Accomplishment stages. Their understanding of cultivation is almost tantamount to truth.
It made sense for the academy to choose books written by Jiang Li at the Grand Accomplishment stage.
Of course, cultivation is cultivation; if you want Jiang Li to write about alchemy or artifact refining, sorry, he can't read or write.
"Can I still lose?" Jiang Li was already thinking about what conditions to set for the Pure Heart Saintess.
On the day of the exam, Jiang Li arrived at the test site full of confidence. Upon seeing the test paper, he felt secure.
For example, one question asked, "What is the definition of cultivation in the 'General Outline of Cultivation'?" Another asked, "'In the Beginning of the Emperors of Jiang (excerpt),' it says, 'The heavy rain lasted for several days, and today it finally cleared up.' Why did the author write this? What does this sentence express?"
The definition of cultivation? This was too simple for Jiang Li. He began to write that cultivation refers to the process by which living beings gradually grow stronger by absorbing spiritual energy to nurture themselves.
"Today's weather is clear?" Jiang Li muttered. He remembered the situation at that time; it was during the rainy season, with ample rain for several days, and the sun finally appeared one day. Jiang Li felt the weather was nice and wrote his insights on a whim.
In addition, the exam also asked how a cultivator at the sixth level of Qi Refinement with a gold spiritual root could defeat a cultivator at the eighth level of Qi Refinement with water, fire, and wood spiritual roots in the forest. It also specified the time of day, the weather, and the density of spiritual energy, with the note that both cultivators are standard cultivators, meaning there are no special bloodline constitutions or unique techniques.
Jiang Li found the combat ability test question quite easy and effortlessly wrote down several methods to defeat a stronger opponent.
"Well, perfect!" Jiang Li was very satisfied with his answers and handed in his paper first.
The vice president in charge of monitoring the exam heard that someone handed in their paper early, so he looked at Jiang Li's test paper and smiled with satisfaction.
"We've got a good seedling this year. His thinking is active, not confined to textbooks, bold in battle, knows how to use the enemy's psychology, and is straightforward in reading and understanding. Well done, well done, well done!" The vice president said three 'well done's in a row, obviously very satisfied with this Kong Li student.
"Wow, someone has handed in their paper so fast. Jiang Jingxin was already a celebrity before entering the school."
"Yeah, her knowledge base is deep. There were many offbeat and peculiar questions this year, squeezed between the reference books, and she could actually remember them. Quite remarkable, quite remarkable."
"How did it go?" After leaving the examination hall, Jiang Li saw the Pure Heart Saintess and teased her.
The Pure Heart Saintess smiled faintly, showing two cute dimples. Many of the passing teachers were staring and walked straight into the wall.
Fortunately, the teachers were tougher than the walls. It's unfortunate that the walls aren't teachers.
"I've already figured out what I want you to do," the Pure Heart Saintess said with a confident smile, causing Jiang Li to smile as well.
"I've already figured out what I want you to do."
"Wait and see?"
"Wait and see."
On the day the test results were announced, a friendly notification from the system sounded.
[Host Mission Failed]
"???" Jiang Li stood in front of the exam rankings in a daze, crouching down to see his name.
Kong Li, last place.
The Pure Heart Saintess stood out in the crowd, her noble temperament making countless people feel ashamed, maintaining a certain distance from her voluntarily.
She also saw her name.
Jiang Jingxin, first place.
The Pure Heart Saintess lightly covered her mouth, to others, she looked surprised, but in reality, she was trying not to burst into laughter upon seeing Jiang Li's ranking.
I can't, my stomach hurts.
I'm a cultivator in Unity stage, my willpower should be strong.
My book, examined by myself, didn't help with me getting the last place. No, I can't help but laugh.
Hahaha, such a good laugh.
After a struggle in her heart, the Pure Heart Saintess finally managed not to let herself laugh out loud.
"Go ahead and laugh if you want to," said Jiang Li, with a deadpan expression, looking at Jingxin, the Saintess, reveling in her misfortune.
"I didn't laugh... Hahaha... You also have your days," she said, struggling to contain her laughter.
"Surely something went wrong," Jiang Li rationalized, "Let's go, we'll settle this with the Dean... Ask if there was a mistake in judgment."
The Dean of the academy, surnamed Li, was responsible for reviewing this year's examination papers.
Dean Li stood on the high platform, surveying whether there were any outstanding talents this year.
Speaking of someone like Jiang Jingxin, the student, was quite impressive, and could be his pupil.
"Dean, there are people below looking for you."
"Who?"
"It's this year's top student, Jiang Jingxin, and the bottom student, Kong Li. They said you made a mistake in judgment."
Dean Li snorted heavily, somewhat displeased.
It was ridiculous if he had made a mistake; he had a clear recollection of Jiang Jingxin's examination paper, which was flawless, and Kong Li's paper, which was a mess.
"Bring them up, let them tell everyone how I was wrong?"
If it had just been the bottom student looking for Dean Li, he would definitely not have bothered, but if the top and bottom students came together, then he would have to give them proper attention.
It was just right to publicize this matter on the platform, to establish his authoritative image to those students who had not yet enrolled.
"So you are Jiang Jingxin? Not bad, beautiful, delicate handwriting, and the paper was very well written." Dean Li treated Jingxin the Saintess kindly, speaking purposely loud, so the students below would take notice, but he didn't pay any attention to Kong Li, the bottom student.
"Is that Jiang Jingxin? So beautiful."
"Yeah, so gorgeous. Even I, as a girl, am smitten by her."
"Who is the person next to her? Doesn't look too good."
"Don't know."
"Dean Li, I'm Kong Li, and I think you might have judged my paper unfairly," Jiang Li spoke up.
He also knew Dean Li; every time he came to the academy for a lecture, it was Dean Li who received him and showed him great respect.